Dough handling apparatus



July 26 1932- F. H. VAN HoUTLl-:N l 1,869,033

DOUGH HANDLI NG APPARATUS Filed July 14,. 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l f eq 7r7Z/gg g 72 Z \52 JO 6 I 63 L58 1.5 1 57 25. m" HnnHHUHhw-@ l Wunmmm um mmllzlnum J6@ 3mm -v-JUIY 26, 1932- F. H. VAN HOUTEN l ,1,859,033

DOUGH HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 14, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheeh 2 @@WL/@M Walibi/:ugs

F. H. VAN HOUTEN 1,869,033

DOUGH HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 14, 1931 5 sheets-sheet 3 Fran/TH Vcvz July 26, 1932.

Patented July 26, 1932 UNI'iiED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK H. VAN HOUTEN, OF BEACON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T DUTCHESS TOOL COM- PANY, OF BEACON, NEW YORK, lA CORPORATION OF NEW YORK DOUG-H HANDLING- APPARATUS Application led July 14, 1931. Serial No. 550,784.

' 5 The primary object of the invention is to provide a so-called combined dough divider and rounderfwherein one ormore bodies of dough are measured in a measuring cylinder or divider head, and, while still retained in '10 that eiement, are rounded up, so to speak,

into individual balls of dough.

More specifically, the invention contemplates anapparatus comprising a hopper communicating with the compression box; a

'1.5 dough rounding-up surface; and a measuring cylinder or divider head, intermittently rotatable by mechanism which will carry the pockets of said cylinder oryheadpast the compression box to a Vpoint where they will 2U be in registry with the rounding-up surface,

the operation of said mechanism being such that the cylinder is at rest when the pocket-S are in registry with therounding-up surface m whereby portions of dough in thepockets es may be rounded up into balls as before mentioned. In other words, during the rotation of the cylinder or divider head, the pockets will pass the compression box and receive lumps of dough, and will then proceed to the 3@ rounding-up surface Where they will stop to permit the processing or rounding-up of the lumps of dough. Upon the next rotation of the divider head, these rounded-up lumps of dough are discharged on to a traveling surface and the pockets again brought into registry with the compression box for another charge of dough. Y

During the rounding-up of the lumps of dough in the'measuring head pockets it is 4G necessary to enlarge the cavities in which the lumps are confined. VIn view of this, the invention comprises certain details of construction for providing clearance between the cylinder head and rounding-up surface with- 45 out interfering with the discharge of the lumps of dough from the pockets after the rounding-up step.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain Adetails of cong struction and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will hereinafter be more fully described and the novel features thereof particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Y

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the present improvements.

Fig. 2 is a topplan view.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 4; of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, looking toward one endof the dough dividing cylinder.

Fig. 6 is an elevation, similar to Fig. 5, showing some of the parts in a different position.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the cylinder.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the rounding-up member. y i

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the cylinder; and

Fig. 10 is a detail view of one end of the divider head.

In the preferred construction of the present apparatus, the main framecomprises side members 10, in which there is journaled -a main operating shaft 11 carrying a gear 12, meshing with a second gear 13 on a drive shaft 14. journaled in the frame, and to Which motion is imparted from any suitable source. The main operating shaft 11 also carries a pair of cams, 15, 16, and a crank 17. Above the main frame, there is a hopper 18, communication with the compression boX 19 below it, and slidable in said compression box is a plunger 2O connected by links 21 to dual operating levers 22 pivoted on al shaft 23 in the base of the frame. Also pivoted on said shaft is a comparatively short lever 24 adapted to engage, when moved in one direction,

against an abutment 25 carried by the plunger levers. This short lever 24C is connected by a link 26 to the crank 17 on the main operating shaft. Said comparatively short lever also carries a seat 27 for one end of a com pression spring 28, Whose opposite end engages in a seat 29 properly supported by a boltSO extending through the spring 28, its

seats 27, 29, the short lever 24, and a cross piece 31 on the plunger lever. With this construction, it will be seen that normally the crank and comparatively short lever will advance the plunger in the compression boX, but in the event forward movement of the plunger is obstructed by dough inthe box, the crank is frce to continue its forward move.- `ment by reason of the fact that the comparatively short lever may continue its forward move-ment by compressing the springs. In accordance with the general practice, 4there is also a knife 32 interposed between the bottom of the hopper and the .compression b oX for severing dough in the box from the main mass of dough-in the hopper. This-knifeis vreciprocated by levers 33 pivoted en shaft '23,the upper end of said levers beingconnected by links 34`to the knife, and the intermediate portion of the lever beingprovided with a cam roller 35 opera-tively associated with the cam 16 on themain shaft.

'Journaledin the frame is-'the divider head or divider cylinder 36 formed with a-plurality oflongitudinally spacedV pockets 8?, each adapted to receive in increment ofdough 'when itis brought into 'registry vith the lmouth ofthe compressionboiz. in he present instance, this cylinder is iotate lin'termittently by the following connections. Mounted on the end -ofthe cylinder is sleeve 38, carrying a pawl 39 which engages a detent 40, orfequ-iva'lent element, on the cylinder shaft 41, the sleeve being free to turn with respect *to -the cylinder, except `when Ysaid pawl is in engagement-withfsaidfde-tent. 11n otherv werds,the sleeve 'can rotate indenendently of the cylinder in one direction, ibut ea-nnot'retate independently of the cylinder in the other direction when the pawl isV in its vdetent o'nthecylinder shaft. Attached to, and adapted to partially coil around the sleeve,-is a chain Y42 which is also attached to the gear 12 .on the mainv operating shaft. With the parts 'in the position shown inFig. 1,: it will beseen th-atupon the iirst one-'half revolution of the gear 'in thedirectionlindin cated by the arrow, the chai-n wili unwind from the sleeve rotating said sleeve and, by reason of the fact that the pawl is in the detentfwi-ll" also rotate the cylinder. T his one-half revolution of the `gear imparts'la coinplete `revolution' to the 'measuring cylinder, soV that the latter moves all' the' way around to its original position. Dui-in this movement the pockets 37 pass the 'mouth the compression "boX, at which point the pockets 'will receive charges of the dough. During the next half revolution of the gear, thechain is rewound on the sleeve by the sleeve be-ing' reversely rotated, this reverse rotation of the sleeve being accomplished yby the weight 43 attacliedto said sleeve. During this rewindingofthe chain, the cylinder is atrest, and it is at this time that the lumps of dough in the pockets are rounded up by the rounding-up surface, the pockets being shown in registry with said rounding-up surface in Fig. 3.

This rounding-up surface 44 may consist of a flat plate mounted on four cranks 45, but one of which cranks is somewhat elongated, vas shown at 45a, and is provided at its depending end with Va bevel gear 46 which meshes with another'bevel gear 47 on a shaft 48 on the main frame, motion being imparted to this shaft by a drive chain 49 extending over gears'O, 51, on said shaft, and the main drive shaft,

n performing this rounding-up step of the increments of dough 'in the.dividercylinder pockets, it is necessary to lenlarge :the pockets, so'thatfthere 1will be suicienticlearance as not-t0 interfere Vwith thesmovement ofthe lumps ofdoughinfthe pockets. .For this purpose, the lower wall Vofthe compressionboris formedwithalip 0r extension 52 which `conforms to the periphery of the divider cylinder. rihis lip -orc'urved extension terminates at a point overlying lthe rounding-up surface orpi-ate. This overlying end or edge of the lipis formed ywith a number of emi-circular*recesses correspondi-ng to the number of pocketsin the measuring cylinder. This flip isy supplemented-by a lm vableextensien54 also formed with semi-circular recesses ladapted to register with the recesses inthelip 52, :and the -eireular openings 53, `formed conjointly by these recesses register with the pockets in the measuringcylin'der. The thickness of this lip and its movable extension is -suchas to provide-the clearance that is necessary 'to permit-free manipulation of the lumps of dough wit-hin the pockets by thevrounding-up surface or plate. The supplemental lip por-tion, which has been described as being movable, is carried on a cross piece 55 formed with vextensiens 56 journaled on the cylinder'shaft. Also attached to the cross piece of Athis lip extension is a link 'wvhose end is attached to a vlever* 58 4pivotedintermediate its vends on the main frame,`-whereby the li-nk may be raised'and lowered by means ofa cam roller 59 on the lever engaging in the camming surface 15 on thef'main operating shaft. The formation of the camming surface on the main operating shaft and the disposition of the c ranl: for operating the plunger is such that the knife and plunger can behoperatedfa-t the proper moments to force increments of dough into the measuring head pockets Awhen said pockets are in registry with the mouth of the depression box. Likewise, the timinglof the several parts is su'ch thatf -the link for rocking the lip extension or supplemental lip 54, will be actuated to movesaidllip a short `distance fromits normal position, only when the divider head is first rotated from the rounding up position. In other words,

recense 'after the increments of dough in the pocket-s have been formed into the desired ball formation, the machine is so timed that the measuring head will then begin to rotate and at this time, the supplemental lip is actuated to move in unison WithY the head until the pockets have cleared the rounding-up surface or plate sufhciently to permit balls of dough to fall therefrom. After this has taken place, the measuring head continues its rotation, but the supplemental lip is returned to its normal position, due to Vthe format-ion of its operating cam. That is, it is returned to its normal position in association With the lip 52 so that it will be in position to provide the necessary clearance for the increments of dough carried in the measuring head pockets when they again return to rounding-up position. It should be added that the balls of dough falling from the measuring head pockets are deposited on a traveling surface, preferably an endless moving belt traveling over a series of rollers 6l to a point Where the lumps of dough are to be given their next manipulation or treatment.

It will be appreciated that the present machine is particularly adapted for forming and rounding up increments of tough for loaves as distinguished from pan rolls. In vievv of this, it is preferred that there be means for readily varying the capacity of the individual pockets 37 as these pockets actually measure the increment and, therefore, determine the size of the finished loaf. Such means for altering the capacity of the pockets may comprise a rack 62 mounted on a slidable plate 63 Which is engaged by a screvv 64 rotatable in a support 65 attached to the main frame. Each pocket 87 has a plunger or bottom plate 66 and each plate has a threaded stem 67 thereon. Stems 67 are threaded axially in gears 68 Which also receive threaded elements 69 alined With stems 67. Elements 69 are also threaded'in bosses 70 on the interior of the cylinder. The several gears 68 engage the rack 62 and by turning hand Wheel 71 and screw 64, plate 63 can be moved along rods 72 and the rack moved longitudinally to rotate the gears and move the plungers 66 in or out to increase or decrease the capacity of the pockets.

What I claim is:

1. In a combined dough divider and rounder, the combination of a member having a measuring cavity therein, means for feeding a body of dough into said measuring cavity, means for rounding up said body of dough in said cavity and means forming an enlargement of said cavity during said rounding-up operation.

2. In a combined dough divider and rounder, a hopper, an intermittently movable measuring head having a cavity therein, means for feeding dough from said hopper to said cavity, and means for rounding up a body of dough in said cavity While said head is? stationary. y

3. In a combined'dough divider and rounder, the combination of a hopper, a compression box communicating With said hopper, a measuring head having a cavity therein, a plunger for forcing dough from said box to said cavity, and means for rounding up a body of dough in said cavity.

d. In a combined dough divider and rounder, the combination of a measuring head having a cavity therein, means for feeding a body of dough into said cavity, a roundingup surface, means for movingsaid'head to position a body of dough in said cavity' on said rounding-up surface and means forming an enlargement of said cavity during said rounding-up of the dough therein.

5. In a combined dough divider and rounder, the combination of a compression box, a rounding-up surface, a measuring head h'aving a cavity therein, means for successively positioning said cavity in registry with said box and roundng-up surface, and a plunger for feeding dough from said box into said cavity.

6. In a combined dough divider and rounder, the colnbination of an intermittently moving measuring head having a cavity therein, a compression box, means for feeding dough from said box to said cavity, and a roundingup surface adapted to register With said cavity vvhile said head is at rest.

7. In a combined dough divider and rounder, an intermittently movable measuring head having a cavity therein, means for depositing dough in said cavity While said head is at rest under pressure, a rounding-up surface adapted to engage a body of dough in said cavity, and means for providing clearance for the dough in said cavity when engaged by said rounding-up surface.

8. In a combined dough divider and rounder, the combination of a measuring head having a cavity therein, a compression box, means for depositing dough from said box in said cavity under pressure, a rounding-up surface spaced from the perimeter of said head, means for moving said head to position said cavity in registry with said surface, and a plate interposed between said surface and the perimeter of said head, said plate havlio ing an opening therein adapted to form a continuation of said cavity. f

9. In a combined dough divider and rounder, the combination of a measuring head hav- Ving a cavity therein, a compression box,

means for depositing dough from said box in said cavity under pressure, a rounding-up surface spaced from the perimeter of said head, means for moving said head to position said cavity in registry With said surface, and

a plate interposed between said head and Vrounding-up surface, said plate having an opening therein adapted to form a continua.- tion of said cavity, and a portion of said plate being removable to permit the dis,- oharge of the dough from said cavity.

10. In a. combined dough divider and rounder, the combination of a hopper, a. measuring head having a cavity therein, means for feeding dough from said hopper to seid cavity, a traveling Conveyor onto which dough is discharged from said cavity, means for rounding up a lump of dough in said cavity before lit is vdischarged onto said conveyor and means forming an enlargement of said cavity during said rounding-up operation.

FRANK H. VAN HOUTEN. 

